Brooklyn’s Van Alen Institute on Thursday unveiled “With Your Voice,” a new participatory public artwork by Juanli Carrión and Rodolfo Kusulas, on view through Aug. 9, 2024.
Van Alen Institute said it helps create “equitable cities through community-led inclusive design.”
Located at 10 indoor and outdoor locations in the Gowanus, Brooklyn, Van Alen Institute said this community engagement tool “informs New Yorkers about the 56 Points of Agreement, a set of major capital and programmatic commitments made by the City of New York as part of the Gowanus Neighborhood Rezoning, backed by a $250 million investment by the city.
“The installation brings these agreements directly to Gowanus residents through 10 site-specific Voicers; — colorful, megaphone-shaped viewfinders — and a VR headset located at Van Alen Institute” the institute told Caribbean Life.
It said that while the 56 Points of Agreement affect tens of thousands of Gowanus residents and workers, many are unaware of their existence.
Through “With Your Voice”, it said people can look into the Voicers and view slides illustrating how the 56 Points of Agreements are shaping Gowanus — including changes to the built environment and city-led programs to support residents and local businesses.
At each Voicer, the institute said participants can scan a QR code to record voice notes responding to what they’ve learned.
The institute said these notes are shared with the Gowanus Oversight Task Force, community volunteers that advance the 56 Points of Agreement by meeting regularly with city agencies.
It said responses support the task force’s efforts by surfacing community voices and humanizing impacts of the rezoning.
To encourage participation, Van Alen Institute said people can collect digital gem tokens — dubbed “Gowameralds”— by leaving a voice note at each Voicer. It said those who collect all 10 Gowameralds will win gift certificates from local businesses.
The VR headset at Van Alen Institute hosts an expansive library of additional resources, including 3D models, illustrations, interviews and videos. The VR headset is available to the public Tuesdays–Thursdays, 10:30 a.m. –6:30 p.m., Jul. 16–Aug. 8.
“With Your Voice’ raises awareness about major promises made by New York City to Gowanus residents as part of the neighborhood’s ongoing redevelopment,” said Juanli Carrión and Rodolfo Kusulas. “Through the surveys posted at each Voicer, we encourage Gowanus residents to voice their opinions about what they learn and create a connection with the Gowanus Oversight Task Force members working to strengthen this community.”
“Juanli Carrión and Rodolfo Kusulas’s installation With Your Voice exemplifies public art’s potential for approachable, effective community engagement,” said Deborah Marton, executive director, Van Alen Institute. “Amidst the speedy evolution of Gowanus’s built environment, the piece’s brightly colored, whimsical installations — the Voicers — demystify neighborhood changes and support the Gowanus Oversight Task Force’s important advocacy.”
Marton said this is Van Alen’s 15th installation in its ongoing Common Build initiative, which surfaces the work of emerging artists and tests new strategies to bring people together in public space.
She said “With Your Voice” is supported by public funds from the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council and by the Council’s Brooklyn Boroughwide Needs Initiative, and with in-kind fabrication from Bednark Studio and engineering review services from Silman.
The project is made possible through the collaboration of Brooklyn Public Library, New York City Housing Authority, NYC Department of Environment Protection, NYC Department of City Planning, NYC Parks, Domain Companies, PMG, SCAPE and Avery Hall.
“With Your Voice” locations in Brooklyn: Van Alen Institute, 303 Bond St.; Wyckoff-Bond Garden, 195 Wyckoff St.; Powerhouse Arts, 322 3rd Ave.; David Foulke Memorial Garden, 248-250 Bergen St.; Wyckoff Gardens Community Center, 280 Wyckoff St.; C-Town, 239 Bond St.; Good Morning Deli, 303 Dean St.; Brooklyn Public Library, 25 4th Ave.; Siempre Restaurant, 255 3rd Ave.; and Office of Councilmember Hanif, 195 Bond St.
